Project Ares

Alone

Coruscant - Republic Military Complex

"What do you mean we can't go back for him?!" Fives yelled in rage at Admiral Tarkin. After their rescue ship arrived to pick them up, a situation elsewhere required the ship, resulting in them leaving Chief behind on Dathomir. "You would be wise to mind your tone ARC trooper fifty-five, fifty-five. However, your question is a valid one and the simple answer is that no one, not even a super soldier, could survive that fall."

Echo looked at his brother's covered face, he knew that Five's blood was past the boiling point by now. If he continued to be here, there would be severe consequences for him or even the whole of Blue Team. "Fives, calm down. You're only going to make the situation worse."

"Echo, he's our brother-in-arms. He would never leave one of us behind, and if anyone could survive re-entry, it's him." Fives responded hotly. Though it was just him and Echo in the room with Tarkin at the moment, the rest of Blue Team was waiting outside, clearly as frustrated as the ARCs. "Though your loyalty to the Master Chief is admirable, it is clear that you are too compromised to remain on this task force. As of right now, Blue Team is to be disbanded and all members are to return to their original legions."

Furious, Fives lunged at the admiral for his blunt and insensitive approach to the situation. Fortunately for the officer, Echo grabbed Fives with both arms and with much effort directed him out of the room. "Your lucky ARC trooper 210408, if your out-of-control counterpart had succeeded in striking me, he would have been dragged out of here and incarcerated."

"Sir, I may not be as impulsive as my brother, but believe me when I say that I am just as upset about all of this as he is. A word of advice, keep clear of the 501st, next time you run into Fives, I won't hold him back."

Dathomir System

As Chief opened his eyes, he was immediately stunned with a blurry vision and sore muscles across his body. Squeezing his eyes closed before taking a breath to calm down and overpower the deafening concussion, Chief reopened his eyes and scanned his HUD.

According to the suit's data, the armour had been in lockdown for almost 24 hours due to the very abrupt impact it had received on its way down. Luckily, the suit itself was still in relatively good shape, shields were still operational along with life support and other basic functions. However, the thrusters were completely demolished and a large chunk of the chest plate had been blown open, though there was still enough left to maintain optimal protection.

Disengaging the lockdown, 117 got back on his feet and examined the gear he still had on him. With two fully loaded pistols, his knife, four grenades and two breaching charges, Chief still had enough firepower on him to take on a substantial amount of enemies. He did still have his rifle but only had one full magazine left and one that was already at half-capacity. 

Looking at his suit's telemetry, Chief noticed a temple about 30 kilometres away that appeared to have signs of life. Marching off to his newly plotted waypoint, Chief hoped that there was someone that could help him get back to the Republic.

Time skip

After trekking through the deadly crimson forests of Dathomir and climbing over a small mountain, Chief was finally close enough to the temple to make an accurate assessment of the area. There appeared to be up to a hundred Nightsisters scattered across the site, with a few more returning from patrol, probably looking for anything useful from the crash.

Zooming further in, 117 spotted a hologram projector with non-other than the head Nightsister talking to Count Dooku. Following the end of the transmission, Chief saw how the Nightsister turned and stared directly at him. Though he tensed up for a few seconds, Chief saw how she did not send anyone after him. Instead, she just went and sat down on the steps of the temple and waited for him to come to her.

Though he did not see anyone on his way there, Chief was sure that the number of eyes on him grew with each step as he neared their home. Finally stepping out of the last stretch of maroon trees and into the open, Chief approached the woman that was still waiting for him.

"Hello stranger, I am Mother Talzin, leader of the Nightsisters here on Dathomir. You are a warrior yes? Are you here to eliminate us?" The woman replied with a husky voice that was followed by a strange and mystical echo. Within her hands, there was a mysterious green glow that she was busy playing with. Within the blink of an eye, the emerald light vanished as she slid up to Master Chief's side to inspect the new arrival. Tracing her long white fingers across his back before continuing across his left shoulder. "Ma'am, I must ask that you refrain from doing that. My name is Master Chief, One One Seven of the Grand Army of the Republic."

"Ah yes, of course. Dooku told me all about you, how you snuck into his castle, went against Dathomir's best Nightbrother, the one who killed my son." Mother Talzin finished with a slight hint of venom coming out from her voice. "But alas, Savage was merely a pawn in a much bigger game."

"Mother, why do we keep this abomination of man and technology here? Either get rid of him or let me kill him." A voice sounded from the corner of the temple wall. Looking up, Chief saw the lean figure of Asaj Ventress, the former apprentice of Count Dooku himself and thought to be dead. "Ventress, calm your desires, the Master Chief here can still be of use to us. Can't you, John?"

Rapidly tensing up once again and pulling out his pistol, Chief pointed the barrel straight to the woman's skull with every fibre of his being urging him to squeeze the trigger and end her. Deciding to use his better judgement, Chief maintained his aim but calmly asked her a very simple question. "How do you know that?"

"It's really simple, John. I read your mind, your deepest, darkest thoughts. Because, unlike the Jedi or Sith, I don't use the Force. I use the magic of the Nightsisters. Something that training of yours did not prepare you for."

"You said that there was something I could maybe help you with. What would that be exactly, and if I did do it, will you help me get back to the Republic?" Chief asked cautiously, still maintaining his aim on Talzin. "Recently that has been a troop of rancors attacking our sisters deep in the mountains, I want you to go and eliminate them. Once you have accomplished that, I will repair your armour and provide you with a means of returning to your fragile Republic."

"Point me towards the target and get the transport ready." Chief answered, accepting the mission and holstering his weapon. Just then, Ventress jumped down from her corner of the temple. "Go 40 kilometres west, then climb to the top of the mountain. There you will find a series of tunnels that lead to the beasts' den."

Time skip

After succeeding in this little side mission, Chief returned to the temple completely depleted of all ammunition and weapons. The only thing he had that still worked was his knife and his body. This time, upon entering the temple grounds, the Nightsisters didn't scatter into the shadows, instead, they just continued on with their everyday tasks.

Walking into the temple chambers, Chief finally found Mother Talzin and Ventress talking at a large stone altar that had numerous small inscriptions and details carved into it. "Mother Talzin, the rancors will no longer be a problem for you and your fellow Nightsisters. Now it is time for your end of the deal."

"Very well John. Please lay down on the altar so that I may begin the ritual."

"Ritual?"

"Well yes of course, how else was I going to fix your armour and teleport you to the nearest Republic base?" Reluctantly getting on the altar and barely fitting on the large stone, Chief prepared himself as the mysterious green energy returned to Mother Talzin's hands. This time, more appeared around his entire body as he was lifted into the air. Suddenly a bright light encompassed the entire room as Chief was teleported to an unknown location.